7 Delicious Ways to Enjoy Tofu - the Asian Bean Curd Super Food

First created in Asia about 2,000 years ago,tofu or bean curd has been touted as an Asian superfood that can keep obesity at bay, the heart in excellent shape, and the body in tip-top form.

Tofu is simply made by coagulating soy milk and pressing the curds from coagulation into soft, off-white, and rectangular blocks.

The Many Health Benefits of Tofu

Much has been researched, reported, and said about the health-promoting benefits of tofu.

Specifically, this wonderfood is a good source of soy protein, making it a superb alternative to meat. It also has various nutrients that make the body healthy.

Below are some of the reported health benefits of tofu:

Tofu is good for people with heart diseases and atherosclerosis. Regular consumption of tofu can lower bad cholesterol, total cholesterol, blood clotting, and triglyceride levels.

Tofu can help ease the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause. Tofu’s isoflavones can provide estrogenic activities that are just enough to balance fluctuating estrogen levels typical in menopausing women.

Tofu may stall osteoporosis. Certain kinds of tofu are packed with calcium, assisting people in the prevention of bone loss and rheumatoid arthritis.

Tofu has iron and copper, aiding the body in transporting and releasing oxygen as well as disarming free radicals.

Tofu has been used as a meat substitute because it is high in proteins.

Tofu is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can prevent clogged arteries, improve cholesterol levels, and avert heart attacks.

Tofu can destroy free radicals through its selenium. It has antioxidant properties.

1. Simmer Tofu in a Hot Pot

In Japan, people enjoy tofu as a wintertime food.

They make tofu into hot pot dish called yudofu, which is made of simmered tofu mixed with vegetables and mushrooms.

Yudofu is easy to make.

After simmering the vegetables and tofu, the dish is flavored with seasonings like soy sauce.

2. Sweeten Tofu into a Pudding

In China, many people eat tofu as an afternoon snack.

They eat very soft tofu in sweet, warm, and dessert form called douhua or dau fu fa.

Douhua is made of water, agar-agar, soya milk, evaporated milk, and either clear sweet syrup or brownish palm sugar syrup.

3. Jazz Up Tofu as a Bar Food

In Korea, people like drinking alcoholic beverages with tofu.

They make tofu kimchi or dubu kimchi, which can actually serve as a side dish or a complete meal in itself as well.

Dubu kimchi is made of tofu, kimchi, slices of pork, sesame oil and seeds, soy sauce, garlic, and onions.

It is one bar food that has mega-doses of nutrients.

4. Gorge Tofu as a Street Food

In the Philippines, people enjoy tofu as a sweet, cheap, and filling treat anytime between morning and late afternoon.

They eat tofu as a staple street food called taho, which is sold just about everywhere by male vendors carrying two aluminum buckets - one holding silken tofu and another containing arnibal or brown sugar syrup and sago or tapioca pearls.

5. Add Zing to Tofu

In Indonesia, people like their tofu sweet, spicy, crunchy, and golden brown.

They prepare tofu by boiling it in coconut water flavored with galangal, palm sugar, tamarind, coriander and shallot.

Once the coconut water has evaporated, the tofu is then fried until it becomes crispy.

It is then added with either tempeh – a soy product – or chicken.

This dish is called tofu or tahu bacem.

6. Have a Tofu Barbecue

Vegetarians all over the world have used tofu as a substitute for meat and make it into a barbecue.

They actually dip tofu in barbecue sauce then fry it or grill it.

Whichever way, they make sure that the high-protein and low-fat tofu is mixed with other healthy, not-so-fattening ingredients.

7. Sip Tofu as a Smoothie

Health-conscious people the world over make tofu into a cold smoothie, combining it with other wholesome ingredients like fruits and vegetables.

Tofu smoothie or shake can be drunk just about any time of the day or when one needs a dose of protein.

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@kerlyn, at least i have something to refer to what works and not. it's a learning process. i am not used to writing for online content. my approach still is blogging. i still have to overcome that. in time... (,")

@anjperez Oh no, I'm not that good either :) Looking forward to reading your hubs!

anjperez 5 years ago

@kerlynb, been thinking about putting hubs about the my place here. still contemplating on how to go around it to make it interesting. was searching on hub pages and there was not much written about it. so i guess that will be on my list. we'll see what transpire in the coming months. i have your hub to model after. so it will be a great start. thanks for the inspiration. (,")

@anjperez Always a great pleasure to hear from you kabayan. I've been reading your hubs and have learned a great deal about PTSD. Thank you! If you get the time, please write a hub about the great foods or places to see in you area :D

@pinoyortiz Hi there! Oh I know you LOVE travelling! So sure you can find a taho vendor in many places all over our beautiful country :) I noticed that the best places to find taho are outside the churches, like after a Sunday mass. The vendors usually wait out until people finish mass.

@carcro Hello! Many people say that tofu has this acquired taste, meaning it takes time before the palate really appreciates its flavor or the lack of it (tofu can be bland). I guess mixing tofu in spaghetti sauce or smoothie would really be a great way to start eating this healthy food.

@Joe Macho Hi! :) So it's really important to check on how "healthy" foods were made. You're right, tofu can be processed in different ways, making it less healthy or even healthier. In my area, people can process tofu in a way that enhances its calcium content. I have osteopenia so I eat tofu a lot for calcium :)

anjperez 5 years ago

kerlynb, you did it again. great hub with lots of information, very healthy topic and interesting, too. all votes up!

pinoyortiz 5 years ago from Quezon City, Philippines

This is a great hub! Again, I especially like taho!!! It's something I miss during the mornings, when street vendors used to visit our neighborhood everyday to sell taho and I'd usually buy a glass or two. :)

carcro 5 years ago from Winnipeg

I have never been a big fan of Tofu but then I have never seen it prepared like illustrated here! Great hub, great pics and great tips. Voted Up and Awesome.

Joe Macho 5 years ago from Colorado

Great information regarding tofu and methods to cook it. I've always been a big fan of tofu, but have been turned off to it lately due to the fact that most of the US tofu comes from genetically modified soy. Thanks for the read. Voted up

@LouLa Ball Hello! You can start eating tofu anytime :) It's one way of having a good diet for low cost. Plus, tofu is really bland so it soaks up the flavors of other ingredients in a dish. Thanks for your comments.

@MonetteforJack Hello! :) I guess it's cultural, right? Some people like it, others don't. Reminds of natto. It'so well-loved in Japan but not so much outside of Japan. People have a love-hate relationship with natto. Same thing with taho, I think. Personally though, I LOVE taho. I can eat it like everyday, without a miss! :)

LouLa Ball 5 years ago from Tennessee

Fantastic hub, very well written! The pictures that you included look so appetizing. I do not eat a lot of tofu and maybe that is because I never think to. I love tofu in hot and sour soup though. Thanks for the great pictures because I think that I will incorporate more into my diet.

@SilentReed Tokwa't baboy is also very nutritious. One Japanese told me that tofu becomes even healthier when cooked with strips of pork.

Admiral_Joraxx 5 years ago from Philippines

So tofu is prepared as taho here in the Philippines. I've long been enjoying this stuff without knowing it. You know what Kerlyn. The taho vendor never passes our house without me becoming his customer. I use to keep 5 peso coins for this stuff. I also enjoy this street food in school. Nice hub! thanks for sharing your knowledge on this. 1 vote up and interesting.=)

Fellow Mumbaite 5 years ago from India

I hate the taste of Tofu to tell you the truth, but for the health benefits do eat it anyway. I have seen that tofu can actually get lot much better if cooked into some nice recipe. Good recipe collections for Tofu! Looking forward to cook one of them..

MonetteforJack 5 years ago from Tuckerton, NJ

I clicked everything and voted up! I miss the TAHO! I also love the well-researched hub you did on tofu. Much as I would love to buy it, I can't :( It spoils easy. For some reasons, no matter how delicious I make it (HAHAHA! braggart me, oh!) My husband doesn't like it. The neighborhood kids don't either and I gave it free! Oh well ... there's is a different gastronomic delight --yogurt. Great hub, very entertaining and informative.

SilentReed 5 years ago from Philippines

Coming home late or in the wee morning hours after a night of bar hopping,It's always nice to drop by the ubiquitous street food sellers with their pushcarts holding huge caldrons of steaming Congee(rice gruel). I always have a side dish of Tokwa't baboy (pork meat and fried tofu):)